Results from Phase III Community Forums:

The Bakersfield Californian - March 29, 2000

Our Slogan:
� Where you can walk (or bike) to work
� California "Hot Spot"

Our Image:
� Family arrpeciated
� Highly educated community (higher education)

Our Reputation:
� Family friendly
� Business friendly
� The town Buck built

Business Environment:
� Vibrant S.E. businesses

Heart of the City:
� High tech center
� Tress
� Water

Technology:
� City completely wired

Transportation:
� Cross town in 10 minutes
� High speed rail stop
� K.R. Expressway
� Implement major transportation investment strategy

Our Values:
� Family first
� Respect and dignity for all cultural groups

Biggest Changes:
� City/county cooperation
� End of turf battles
� Strong performance of K-12 students
� High matriculation rates to UC

Break Thrus:
� Clean air miracle

Looking Back I'm Most Proud of�
� The people
� Vision 2020

What's our Vision for Our Economy over the next 10-20 years?
� Professionalized downtown with shopping centers - Noon concerts
� Safety and security
� Family environment

What kind of Economic Development Initiatives do we want to create?
� Federal Center & Courthouse
� Low business taxes
� Educational strategies for more high tech work

What kind of Jobs do we want to attract here over the next 10-20 years?
� High paying jobs - high skilled
� Well educated work force
� More high tech jobs

Our Vision for Downtown
� Kern River Parkway thru
� Kern Spring Water Plant
� Garces Park along Parkway near museum - Arts Amphitheatre and ice rink in same location
� Landscaping on North Chester in front of musuem
� Hwy 99 tree lined corridor
� Trolley cars through downtown linking Beale Historic District and Oak St.
� People living downtown
� Transportation from trolley line at Central Park to area S. of California between Union and Chester where shopping, senior housing, and safe community is noted
� Lakeview area = built up neighborhoods

In our Community's Future We Wanted and We Got�
� Friendly local INS & Naturalization
� Clean air and plenty of clean water
� Sustainable economic development
� Lower than average unemployment
� Freeway by-pass around entire city
� Our kids schools rank in the top 10% of the state
� Houseing close to jobs
� Cheapest housing in state

In our Community's Future we didn't want and we didn't get�
� No Fresno INS cattlecalls
� Low wage economic development that benefits corporations outside of Kern Co.
� Strip zoning
� No toll roads

Common Themes:
� Economic Growth
� Education
� Good Transportation
� Water Elements
� Air quality
� Development of downtown & housing downtown
� Safe community
� Strong families
� Business friendly
� High tech jobs

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